Thank goodness you said "best basic" instead of cheapest. I think the best basic kit that everything you need except the dies is the Rock Chucker Master Reloading Kit. It is occasionally put on sale by Midway and Natchez.

Thanks for the advice. That RCBS kit is what I am looking for. I appreciate the help. I am looking forward to reloading my own. I also found .17 and .303 reloading dies in there group A set. Any other advice for a newcomer to reloading is welcome.

Any time you're at a gunshow and run across a good used reloading book, if the price is right, buy it.

Don't ever get in a hurry.

Then, when you actually start reloading, write down all loads, and date them. If you try test-loads, 3 to 5 loads with a bit different powder as you work up a load, use a magic marker for color coding (just a swipe across the case-head) and write it down!

Double check yourself from time to time as you go. When you use a powder measure, go to the scale every 100-200 rounds and make sure it's still "on weight".

I'll add my recommendation for the Rock Chucker as an outstanding single stage press. I started with one and still use it for small runs and for heavy magnum loads. I now use a Dillon 550B progressive for production reloading.

I started out years ago with a Rock Chucker and it's still the one I use today. After thousands and thousands of rounds it still performs. And their customer service people are great. When I've broken parts (my fault every time), they send me replacement parts for free.

happiness is... an rcbs rockchucker. i also have a thirty plus year young rcbs junior that's still goin' strong. grand kids will probably being using them when i'm long gone. these are good products backed up by a good customer relations department! sundog

I have been debating on either the kit with the Partner Press ($99) or the kit with the Rockchucker ($214-250). To me $100 is still a big difference especially if you are just starting out. I think I would vote for the Partner press kit - he is reloading rifle calibers as well. The Rockchucker *can* be converted to progressive with the Piggyback setup. If he were reloading pistol ammo that might be a consideration for future expansion.

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